Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh went down to the field to encourage the Vietnamese women's team: The girls fought bravely!

The Vietnamese women's team failed to overcome the Australian U.23 team in the semi-finals of the 2025 Southeast Asian Women's Football Championship. The away team's advantage in physical strength and physique posed a real challenge to the home team.

The Vietnamese women's team did not make it to the final after losing in the semi-finals of the AFF Cup. But the home team played very resiliently until the last second. Attending Lach Tray Stadium, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh went down to the field to encourage coach Mai Duc Chung and his team. This was a very beautiful and meaningful image and created great motivation for the Vietnamese women's team before the third-place match on August 19.

The Prime Minister praised and acknowledged the players' efforts and dedication to playing against a highly rated opponent. He especially advised the entire team to take care of their health and continue to focus on preparing well for the third-place match against the Thai women's team, at 4 p.m. on August 19. The Prime Minister expressed his belief that the players will be determined to bring joy to fans nationwide.

Vietnam women's team meets very strong opponent

Entering the semi-finals of the 2025 Southeast Asian Women's Football Championship (AFF Women's Cup), the Vietnamese women's team is full of confidence as they are the only team to have won all their group matches and will be playing at home at Lach Tray Stadium ( Hai Phong ). Notably, this match was honored to be attended by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

Meanwhile, despite losing to Myanmar in Group B, the U.23 women's team of Australia has gradually regained their rhythm and shown impressive performance. Coach Mai Duc Chung fielded the strongest lineup with Huynh Nhu leading the attack, while goalkeeper Kim Thanh continued to be a reliable stopper in the goal.

Meaningful images for the Vietnamese women's team

Prime Minister and Coach Mai Duc Chung

Photo: Minh Tu

Prime Minister and team members

Vietnam women's team sadly lost to U.23 Australia, missed the AFF Cup women's final

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh went to the field to encourage the Vietnamese women's team.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended this match.

PHOTO: MINH TU

Highlight of Vietnam women's team 1-2 U.23 Australia: Missed the final

Highly appreciating his opponent, Coach Mai Duc Chung fielded his strongest lineup.

PHOTO: MINH TU

Coach of Australia U.23

PHOTO: MINH TU

Lach Tray Stadium is covered in red today

PHOTO: MINH TU

Although the Vietnamese team took the initiative to start slowly to probe, they were quickly drawn into the fast and powerful play of U.23 Australia. In the 6th minute, Aideen Hogan Keane jumped high to head the ball from an accurate cross, opening the score for the away team.

The goal came very early for the away team.

PHOTO: MINH TU

Excited after the early goal, the Australian players continued to push up the formation, pressing fiercely with 4 strikers. Thanks to the advantage of size and physical strength, they won many disputes. In the 17th minute, Leticia McKenna fired a dangerous long-range shot from outside the penalty area, doubling the gap for the away team.

In less than 20 minutes, the away team had a 2-goal advantage.

PHOTO: MINH TU

With superior physique, U.23 Australian women have many advantages in the disputes.

PHOTO: MINH TU

The pictures clearly show the difference in physique between the two sides.

PHOTO: MINH TU

The most dangerous chance for the Vietnamese team came in the 26th minute, when Huynh Nhu broke free to face goalkeeper Chloe Lincoln. However, the captain's shot lacked power and could not bring a goal back. Vietnam's attacks on the flanks and high balls were easily neutralized by the tall Australian defense. The first half ended with a 2-0 advantage in favor of the Australian U.23 women's team.

U.23 Australia is both strong and good

With nothing to lose, the Vietnamese women's team attacked from the beginning of the second half, but the Australian U.23 defense still played very solidly.

In the second half, the away team started to attack more, constantly putting pressure on Vietnam's goal. The away team's attacks became sharper, making the defense of the Vietnamese women's team work harder.

Captain Huynh Nhu and the Vietnamese strikers were helpless against the tall and sturdy defense of the away team.

PHOTO: MINH TU

In the 62nd minute, Alana Cerne missed the ball after a low free kick from her teammate. A close call for Vietnamese fans as Cerne faced an empty goal. Luckily, the final shot was inaccurate, otherwise the third goal would have gone to the away team.

In the 70th minute, Bich Thuy had a face-to-face encounter with goalkeeper Lincoln, but the Australian defense had time to cover each other. Bich Thuy thought she had been fouled in the penalty area, and the referee, after consulting VAR, decided not to award a penalty to the Vietnamese team.

Bich Thuy (left cover) brings hope in the last minutes to the Vietnamese women's team

PHOTO: MINH TU

But 1-2 was the final score of the match.

PHOTO: MINH TU

And then it was Bich Thuy's extremely commendable effort in the 88th minute with a solo situation of passing the opponent's defender and then making a decisive shot that brought the goal to shorten the score for the Vietnamese women's team. 1-2 was also the final score of the 2nd semi-final of the Southeast Asian women's football championship.

Thus, U.23 Australia will enter the final and meet again the opponent in Group B, the Myanmar women's team. Meanwhile, the Vietnamese women's team will meet again the Thai women's team in the third place match. Both matches will take place on August 19.

Watch the MSIG Serenity Cup™ 2025 AFF Women's Football Championship live and in full on FPT Play, visit http://fptplay.vn

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/thu-tuong-pham-minh-chinh-xuong-san-dong-vien-doi-tuyen-nu-viet-nam-cac-co-gai-da-chien-dau-qua-cam-18525081621090584.htm